April 29, 2018 "PERFECTING GROWTH"

AN EASTER AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe we are created in the image of God, male and female.
Believing that God’s will for us is goodwill,
we follow in the footsteps of God’s beloved Son,
Jesus the Christ.
We believe Jesus lived to forgive, and showed us that by serving one another,
we are connected to the heart of God.
We believe we share Jesus’ mission to bind up and heal the broken hearted.
We believe that Jesus took the burden of our regrets and sorrows
upon his own shoulders, and bore them to the cross where they died with him.
Jesus was buried, but on the third day God raised him from the dead, as promised.
After Jesus’ resurrection, we believe God sent the Holy Spirit to empower Jesus’ followers.
The Holy Spirit was their ever-present advocate, counselor of truth, and companion.
We believe that same Spirit resides with us, interceding for us,
and empowering our work in the name of the Christ.
The Spirit reminds us daily to love God and one another as
the Christ loved us. Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious and Loving God, how sweet it is to ponder your grace, to bask in the light of your mercy and love. It is as lovely and gently glorious as the sunrise. We pray never to have a sense of alienation from you or our community of faith. Let us never —not for a single second — take for granted your outpouring of goodwill and concern. With each and every breath we take you remind us of your presence. With each and every step we take, we are reminded that your handiwork knit each of us together in our mother’s womb. Even if we aren’t as nimble as we once were, keep our spirits limber as we serve you in the name of the Christ. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
In the United Methodist Church if a member is not attending the church where enrolled, the member is requested to: 1. reaffirm their baptismal vows and return to living in community with that church where their name is recorded; 2. request a transfer to another UMC where the member will return to living in that community of faith; 3. arrange transfer to a particular church in another denomination; 4. request withdrawal. If the church can’t find the member to offer these choices their name may be removed from the rolls by a vote of the charge conference. The gospel of John asserts that a vine branch cannot bear fruit unless it is attached to the vine, so too the Christian cannot bear fruit unless he or she is similarly attached to Jesus who is the vine who gives us life and consequent produce.

April 22, 2018 "KEEPING UP APPEARANCES"

AN EASTER AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe we are created in the image of God, male and female.
Believing that God’s will for us is goodwill,
we follow in the footsteps of God’s beloved Son,
Jesus the Christ.
We believe Jesus lived to forgive, and showed us that by serving one another,
we are connected to the heart of God.
We believe we share Jesus’ mission to bind up and heal the broken hearted.
We believe that Jesus took the burden of our regrets and sorrows
upon his own shoulders, and bore them to the cross where they died with him.
Jesus was buried, but on the third day God raised him from the dead, as promised.
After Jesus’ resurrection, we believe God sent the Holy Spirit to empower Jesus’ followers.
The Holy Spirit was their ever-present advocate, counselor of truth, and companion.
We believe that same Spirit resides with us, interceding for us,
and empowering our work in the name of the Christ.
The Spirit reminds us daily to love God and one another as
the Christ loved us. Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Dearest Lord, when we live far away from loved ones, friends or family, we keep in touch by calling them on the phone or writing to them in some form. When we sign off we will actually say “keep in touch.” We can lose track when we don’t stay in touch. O Lord, may we realize that every moment of prayer is our way of keeping in touch with you, whether we are greeting you with praise and thanksgiving, or asking for guidance, comfort or relief. Let us be bold in our communication as Jesus taught us. When he prayed he held nothing back, he asked you to intercede on behalf of others and himself. Show us we need not be timid, even if it’s been a long time since we reached out; you are still there and always will be. Thank you for that, in the name of the Christ. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
I grew up hearing the expression “keeping up with the Joneses.” I really didn’t understand what it meant, because I never saw my parents as the keep up with the Jones’s types. I do remember when I was around 12 or so, we started going to a country club. I took tennis lessons there until we stopped going, because I guess my parents decided not to belong anymore. My older brother and I both had summer jobs as lifeguards at two different country clubs, and although we could swim in the pools we guarded, we weren’t members—we were employees. To belong in some organizations/clubs you have to have money, social standing or political standing, influential friends, or adequate sponsorship, and once you belong you are obliged to live up to certain expectations. It is true some churches have modeled themselves after country clubs, but the Lord requires no such “buy-in” to belong to the body of Christ, only your word that you will serve others with the gifts God has given you.

April 15, 2018 "THE WALK OF LIFE"

AN EASTER AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe we are created in the image of God, male and female.
Believing that God’s will for us is goodwill, we follow in the footsteps of God’s beloved Son,
Jesus the Christ.
We believe Jesus lived to forgive, and showed us that by serving one another,
we are connected to the heart of God.
We believe we share Jesus’ mission to bind up and heal the broken hearted.
We believe that Jesus took the burden of our regrets and sorrows upon his own shoulders,
and bore them to the cross where they died with him.
Jesus was buried, but on the third day God raised him from the dead, as promised.
After Jesus’ resurrection, we believe God sent the Holy Spirit to empower Jesus’ followers.
The Holy Spirit was their ever-present advocate, counselor of truth, and companion.
We believe that same Spirit resides with us, interceding for us,
and empowering our work in the name of the Christ.
The Spirit reminds us daily to love God and one another as
the Christ loved us. Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Glorious God, in this season of Eastertide, we continue to ponder and marvel at your wondrous deeds and your grace. Even while the disciples were wringing their hands, pacing the floor wondering what would become of them and the gospel, you were at work planning something extraordinary. We are bold to say, we believe that your love, your creativity, and your hope for humankind surpasses anything our minds can fathom. You want only the best for your children. May we always be willing to open our hearts and minds to see the good you have planned for us. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
I think the hardest thing anyone has to learn in life is how to make a decision. When we are kids, our decisions are pretty much made for us by the guardian(s) of our days, whether a brand of parent (birth, step, adoptive, foster) or grand. But when suddenly we find ourselves of legal age, grown-up decisions can be cumbersome. My grandfather advocated making a decision chart with two columns, pros on one side, cons on the other. It isn’t the same as a priority list, which often puts the long list of bills to be paid in order of importance. Giving to the church is often found on our grown-up priority lists; on some lists supporting the church is at the top, on others closer to the bottom, and on some it doesn’t appear at all. Where is the church on your priority list? Do you need to start with a decision chart?

APRIL 8, 2018 "MORE THAN A WORD"

AN EASTER AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe we are created in the image of God, male and female.
Believing that God’s will for us is goodwill, we follow in the footsteps of God’s beloved Son,
Jesus the Christ.
We believe Jesus lived to forgive, and showed us that by serving one another,
we are connected to the heart of God.
We believe we share Jesus’ mission to bind up and heal the broken hearted.
We believe that Jesus took the burden of our regrets and sorrows upon his own shoulders,
and bore them to the cross where they died with him.
Jesus was buried, but on the third day God raised him from the dead, as promised.
After Jesus’ resurrection, we believe God sent the Holy Spirit to empower Jesus’ followers.
The Holy Spirit was their ever-present advocate, counselor of truth, and companion.
We believe that same Spirit resides with us, interceding for us,
and empowering our work in the name of the Christ.
The Spirit reminds us daily to love God and one another as
the Christ loved us. Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious God thank you for pouring out your Spirit of wisdom upon the leadership of our annual conference. We truly believe you have been at work in their process of discernment. Today we let go of any remnant fear or anxiety about the future believing that in Reverend Jane, you are sending us a clergywoman who is truly called to the pastoral ministry, who is inspired by scripture, is resilient, energetic and enthusiastic, with a wonderful sense of humor. May she lead us onward to do great things, serving our community and the world, as we endeavor to shine the light of your love and goodwill all around us. In the name of the Christ, we pray. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Isn’t it interesting that when the Lenten season begins, we make a plan to ramp-up our spiritual discipline, and often our physical discipline, as well? We make an informed choice and a concerted effort to give up something we indulge in, or exchange a bad habit for a good one, or even add something altogether new to our daily lives. But when Lent is over and Holy Week has passed, what then? I think it is high time we embraced the 50 days between Resurrection Sunday and Pentecost as days of great opportunity not days full of waiting for something to happen. For the disciples, the 50 days following the resurrection were occasions for confronting next steps. Luke’s risen Christ instructed the disciples to get about building up their spiritual muscles, devoting themselves to prayer and each other. When Holy Week ends, I think many of today’s churches go on automatic pilot until Pentecost arrives, that is, if they are willing to acknowledge that Holy Day at all. On this Second Sunday in the season of Eastertide, let’s make a plan that will carry us through Pentecost and beyond. Let us dress our spirits in the bright colors of new beginnings, devoting ourselves to one another and the Spirit’s leading.